Once the experiment is created, you then define your hardware configuration of signal isolation and conditioning modules. With the fast pull-down menus in the Hardware Configuration window (new with version 2.5), this step is a snap. In fact, since the software remembers the last defined configuration as the current configuration and automatically uses this for new experiments, you may not even need to perform this step. Also new with version 2.5 is the informative feedback in the title bar, letting you know if the loaded experiment's configuration is in conflict with the last known configuration. Version 2.5 also adds a definition for the new 10V BPO signal module.
The next step is to define your inputs and outputs. The system utilizes easy-to-use windows to define all channels. For all channel definitions, you may designate a resample rate so that you may sample at different rates for different channels. This is very useful for data management to keep file sizes under control. You also define the channel name, number, and data storage scenario. For projects demanding constant data capture, you may set to record every cycle. When you're just monitoring over a period of time, you may just want data every couple of cycles. For digital inputs, you may also define the signal polarity expected.
Analog channels offer outstanding configuration options with a straight-forward approach. This is where you define the converted units of measure for the signal as well as scale limits, resample rate, digital output trigger conditions (including approach slope), data storage scenario and calibration settings. You can even setup an auto-calibration function to re-calibrate to zero at a specific point in time every cycle, assuring ongoing accuracy. Calibration is fast and easy, with the ability to enter values directly or to take live readings for semi-automated calibration.
As you enter calibration settings for your transducers, you can build up your own transducer calibration library. This library is actually a separate database from the experiment database so that all of your sensor settings are available to all of your experiments. The next time you use a particular sensor, you simply select it from the menu and the calibration settings are automatically entered.
